November 25. On this date in 1919, 'Abdu'l-Bahá talked about Bahá'í inheritance law, stating "The method of Bahá'u'lláh will be enforced and the House of Justice will not presume to change it...Every one has to write a will and affix a seal thereto and no one need know about the arrangement he has made."

 

November 25. On this date in 1919, 'Abdu'l-Bahá talked about Bahá'í inheritance law, stating "The method of Bahá'u'lláh will be enforced and the House of Justice will not presume to change it...Every one has to write a will and affix a seal thereto and no one need know about the arrangement he has made."

THE INHERITANCE LAW

Luncheon 25 November 1919

At luncheon the Master was in a supremely humorous mood, joking repeatedly with Fugeta. Previously He had said that Fugeta was to return to Japan on a camel or an elephant, but today He decided to send him there in an aeroplane, smiling as He said: "When I ride in one, it will be a spiritual aeroplane."

Mr. Latimer asked whether in the distribution of inheritance the method of the Báb or that of Bahá'u'lláh would be enforced.

‘Abdu'l-Bahá: "The method of Bahá'u'lláh will be enforced and the House of Justice will not presume to change it. The purpose of Bahá'u'lláh's arrangement is that man is not to be interfered with in the leaving of his property. Man may divide his wealth as he likes. Every one has to write a will and affix a seal thereto and no one need know about the arrangement he has made. After his death the will is opened and read and whatever he has decreed will be enforced. Man should have perfect freedom to decide as he wishes, in making his will. This is his own good pleasure. Man has a perfect right to do with his property as he sees fit and his wishes should be carried out.

"In case a person dies and leaves no will, then the law (method) of Bahá'u'lláh will be enforced. But man can bequeath all his property to one person. He is perfectly free to do as he wishes with his own property for he has been the one to acquire it."

Dr. Esslemont: "In case all the property is left to one person, is there any provision for that person to divide the legacy or give something to the House of Justice?"

‘Abdu'l-Bahá: "No. It is his will and the property becomes his. He may give a part to the House of Justice or to orphans, etc. He is permitted to do just as he likes, and that should be enforced."

Mr. Latimer: "In the seven divisions of inheritance, teachers are mentioned, does this mean Bahá'í teachers or all teachers?"

‘Abdu'l-Bahá: "It is not confined to Bahá'í teachers."

Then Dr. Esslemont asked a question about entailed estates in England, explaining in detail how some property is set aside for some purpose and then increases very much in value, but cannot be touched and that these entailed estates are handed down from one person to another intact, to the eldest son. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá startled us all by answering this question, without waiting or giving Shoghi a chance to interpret one word of the question to Him. He said: "In accordance with Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings, a Bahá'í can give all his property to his eldest son. He may do just as he likes. As long as it is his own property he may do as he wishes. One's property cannot be snatched by another. There is one difference, however; when a, Bahá'í leaves all to his eldest son, the eldest son in turn may break the line and divide as he wants to–according to Bahá'u'lláh's method, or as he wishes."

Dr. Esslemont said that England was suffering from this system which was called the "Rule of the Dead Hand."

‘Abdu'l-Bahá: "A hard, fast rule will lead to chaos. People will say why should I work, I have enough, so I won't work, and so on. This is not just. It will enchain the person. It will restrict him. You must give him absolute freedom in disposing of his property for he is the one who has acquired it. What if he does not love his eldest son? What then?"

Mr. Latimer: "In America, the state imposes an inheritance tax on estates according to the amount left."

‘Abdu'l-Bahá: "This is a political issue. It has nothing to do with a religious law. There is nothing to prevent the state from making an inheritance law. A Bahá'í does not interfere with it."